Advertise on podcast: Spotlight Montana

Montana’s wide-open roads can offer plenty of freedom for young drivers, but a new national study is highlighting the dangers that can come with getting behind the wheel. This month on Spotlight Montana, NBC Montana sits down with Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Philip Smart to discuss a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study ranking Montana second in the nation for young driver fatalities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Spotlight Montana, we take an in-depth look at one of the state's most pressing public safety issues: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). We sit down with Brian Frost, the Montana Department of Justice's Missing Persons Specialist, and Darci Humphrey, who is the Criminal Justice Information Network Program Manager, for a conversation about the ongoing MMIP crisis, the work being done to address it and what Montanans need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here in Montana, stories are about more than headlines. They're about our neighbors, our families, and the places we call home. I'm Colton Little, and this is Spotlight Montana—a Working For You podcast from NBC Montana. Each episode, we'll sit down with the people closest to the issues shaping our state—from public safety and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People to addiction, recovery, mental health, and the stories of resilience that remind us who we are as Montanans. You'll hear honest conversations, trusted reporting, and perspectives you won't find anywhere else. If it matters to Montana, we'll shine a spotlight on it. Subscribe now to Spotlight Montana, wherever you get your podcasts also availbe with video on the NBC Montana YouTube Channel. Spotlight Montana is proudly sponsored by Recovery Centers of Montana, connecting Montanans with education, information, and recovery resources across our state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is here, and that means it’s time for young children and their families to celebrate after a long winter dealing with the pandemic. Missoula's annual Week of the Child offers families a chance to do that. The week-long event offers fun activities for families, training programs and events to recognize early childhood champions. Events kick off this Saturday and continue through April 8. In this Spotlight Montana, Healthy Start coordinator Anna Semple shares with us what's planned and talks about the importance of early childhood programs and services designed to meet the needs of young children and their families. Semple also highlights some of the challenges young families are facing. Event information can be found at www.healthystartmissoula.org/woyc and more details about the Bright By Text and LIFTS programs are available at www.healthystartmissoula.org. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The M&M Bar and Cafe in Butte is reopening on St. Patrick’s Day with new sign and a new location 10 months after a devastating fire destroyed the original building. In this Spotlight Montana owner, Selina Pankovich shares with us an update and explains what it took to make the reopening possible. We also talk about the day the fire broke out, the items that survived the blaze and what the future holds for the original site. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Spotlight Montana, University of Montana associate professor Clint Walker, with the Department of World Languages and Cultures, provides new insight and perspective on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the man behind it, President Vladimir Putin.  He explains the history and how what’s happening now is impacting his students at UM.  He also shares stories about his experience living in Russia, its people and culture. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Butte native and former NFL player Colt Anderson is headed to Super Bowl LVI as a special teams assistant coach for the Bengals. NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples talked to Anderson before he left for the big game. In this Spotlight Montana, Anderson discusses how the team is preparing for the game against the Los Angeles Rams and what the experience has been like for him. Anderson also talks about how his football career started in Butte and the work he and his family are now doing with the Colt Anderson Dream Big Foundation. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Wilson of Butte is getting ready to compete in his third Olympic games in men's moguls. In this Spotlight Montana, NBC Montana's Robbie Whittle sits down with Wilson to talk about what he's doing to prepare and how the Olympic games will be a different experience for him this time. Wilson also talks about how his Olympic journey started in Butte and what it's like to experience this with his brother, Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson, by his side. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Spotlight Montana, Whitefish native Maggie Voisin talks about how she's preparing for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, what's next after the games and how COVID-19 restrictions could impact the experience. Voisin also discusses life's ups and downs from injury and tremendous heartbreak to healing and how it's changed her. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBC Montana is working for you answering your questions about the omicron variant of COVID-19 now detected in the Treasure State. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Dr. Neil Ku, an epidemiologist at Billings Clinic. From vaccines and booster shots to flu season and back-to-school concerns, Ku breaks it all down. Ku also talks about what concerns him the most going forward and what that means for you. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest is getting ready to celebrate it's10th anniversary in Polson. The festival will take place the weekend of January 28 to 30. This year's festival features a broad range of films including an academy award nominated short, a documentary that offers a fascinating look at women's professional football and a stunning music video. Special guests include producer Gerald Molen, known for Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Rain Man and more. So grab the popcorn because in this Spotlight Montana we get a sneak peek at what movie goers will see. Watch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. For more information on FLIC click here.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giving Tuesday is a day reserved for generosity and giving back to nonprofits and organizations known for helping others. In this Spotlight Montana we hear from Susan Hay Patrick of the United Way of Missoula on ways to help. Hay Patrick highlights some of the biggest issues facing the community right now, the work being done to address those issues and how you can help. If you or someone you know is in need of help this holiday season, you can call 211. It’s a 24-hour link to all of the social services available for those in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Silvertip Skydivers to working as a James Bond stunt double, Whitefish native B.J. Worth is a legend in the world of skydiving. In this Spotlight Montana, Worth talks about everything from his phenomenal skydiving career to his current work in bird conservation, research and film production. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbmontana.com. Submit your content See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but for the Missoula YWCA, raising awareness, acknowledging survivors and being a voice for victims continues year-round. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Pathways program manager Lyndayle Mattis on just out how prevalent domestic violence is locally, where victims can go for help and what challenges the program is facing at this time. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Land's memoir “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive” is a raw account of her experience as a single mom dealing with poverty after surviving domestic violence. The bestselling book is now a hit Netflix series. In this in-depth Spotlight Montana interview, Land talks about the series, her book, what she experienced, how she’s helping others, her life in Missoula and what she's working on next. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com. Submit your content See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices